Brennon still wasn't feeling well yesterday, so he stayed home while we cleaned booger walls. While we were there, Brennon got news he had been waiting for, news that Randy and I had prayed with our whole souls for, news that had the ability to make his dreams come true, only it wasn't the right kind of news.
Back in May, while at the Forte show on Caden's birthday, Brennon informed us that he was planning on auditioning for Forte. Tyson leans over him and proclaims he's going to join the Middle School arm of Forte, Amplify. We turned to Shelby and asked her if she was going to follow after her brothers and try out for Forte as well! She'd been asked by another friend last year to apply but didn't. In her normal teenage girl attitude voice, she told us "No, she doesn't sing in front of people anymore."
As Brennon gathered more and more information from his friend group about auditions, as he practiced more and told us more of what he was to expect, he told Shelby that they had only a few spots left to sign up for auditions. In a moment of miracle, Shelby got on and registered to audition two days after Brennon's audition.
Over the next few days, Brennon worked every single day, singing, dancing, and just trying to get better and better. Shelby would sing every once in a while and kept telling us that she'd work on the dancing later. We always heard Brennon, we rarely heard Shelby. Brennon has ADP and can't hear very well. Shelby used to sing solos in Sacrament meeting and was in a choir.
Brennon found out first, on the weekend he wasn't feeling well-- He did not make it.
Shelby found out second, while out with friends on the first day she could drive others-- She did make it.
I worried for Brennon's heart. He had told us that his friend group had spoken about the fact that because there are so many of them, the chances of them all making it were small. It's cruel to say, but I'm "happy" one girl and one boy from the group didn't make it. It softens the blow that Brennon isn't the only one.
When I asked Brennon how he was feeling about it, he told me that he was sad, because he really wanted just one more regular activity to do with all of his friends, but that he wasn't crushed. "I never allowed my hopes to get up too high, I just kept reminding myself that not all of us would make it, so I couldn't be crushed if it was me."
When I softly broached the subject of how he felt that Shelby, who signed up last second and didn't yearn for it as badly as he had, made it, Brennon once again did what he always does-- He blew me away with his rare-soul personality!
"Oh, I knew she'd get in. She has such an amazing voice! I am SO HAPPY for her!"
And he meant it. No one ounce of jealousy, not one ounce of pity for himself. He truly was so proud of her. As I turned to look at him, astonished at his maturity that few possess, I praised him with all the love and admiration I have. He has always been our Peacemaker. He calms situations down, never fans the flame of any negativity, and truly just makes people feel seen, loved, understood, and accepted.
When I got home, my eye caught on this week's 52 Modern Manners for Today's Teens by Brooke Romney. For all other topics, we've had a discussion about the topic before going throughout the week. It's placed where we can all see it often. But this week, we were busy with Keilie, Dallin, and Bailey on Sunday, August 27th, so I just turned the topic page, hoping the kids would see it on their own. I know, though, that Brennon didn't have to read it, that it is something that he is just born with, that he innately knows, that he taught me in action and deed--
Celebrate Others.
When something good happens to someone, celebrate with them. Don't rationalize, downplay their success, or say they just got lucky. Don't act like you deserved it more. Let them have their moment and talk it up. Give them the chance to be the star and feel the joy of accomplishment. Few things show emotional maturity more than being happy for the good fortune of others.
Brennon told me that he wants to volunteer as an usher, make and sell cookies for the concessions, and just do anything else that he can to help. If he isn't part of the show, he wants to make the show work in other ways. As I reflect on Brennon from birth, on all of my kids' attributes and personality traits, I have seen proof again and again that it isn't anything that we are doing as parents-- Our kids come from Heaven with their own gifts, talents, and personalities. I may be his mother, but Brennon is my teacher and example in so many ways.
"We hold in our arms the rising generation. They come to this earth with important responsibilities and great spiritual capacities. We cannot be casual in how we prepare them. Our challenge as parents and teachers is not to create a spiritual core in their souls but rather to fan the flame of their spiritual core already aglow with the fire of their personal faith." ~Neil L. Anderson, April 2010
How grateful I am that I was chosen to be their Mother.
